Comparing Tim Blake Nelson's Version of Othello to That of Geoffrey Sax

Summary: Othello is one of Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies and consequently a pillar of what most critics take to be the pinnacle of Shakespeare's dramatic art. In more recent years, many filmmakers have re-contextualized his works, into a number of more modern settings, in an attempt to make his work more accessible to contemporary audiences. Perhaps the most talked about adaptations are those by directors Tim Blake Nelson and Geoffrey Sax, who have each produced their own renditions of the play, which reflect their interpretations of the play's central themes, the driving force of the plot.

Comparative Film Study Essay

Along with Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, Othello is one of Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies and consequently a pillar of what most critics take to be the pinnacle of Shakespeare's dramatic art. The Bard's controversial play has been remade for television and the silver screen quite a few times, with many different adaptations. In more recent years, many filmmakers have re-contextualized his works, into a number of more modern settings, in an attempt to make his work more accessible to contemporary audiences. Perhaps the most talked about adaptations are those by directors Tim Blake Nelson and Geoffrey Sax, who have each produced their own renditions of the play, which reflect their interpretations of the play's central themes, the driving force of the plot. Despite obvious drawbacks in both modernized versions, Tim Blake Nelson's adaptation seems to be more successful in depicting Shakespeare's tragedy. The...